You need to get out into the streets and not only look at your buildings, but also comprehend what it is you’re looking at and how it may affect the conduct of operations based upon your assignment, task or oversight.

If you don’t understand how a building is built; then how is it possible for you to identify, determine and assign appropriate assignmentsÂ based upon prevailing or projected conditions on the incident scene?

Remember, It’s Occupancy Risk NOT Occupancy Type

Understanding the Building’s Anatomy, it’s Predictability of Performance and the effects of Fire Behavior on the Compartment and the Envelope are one of the primary tenets for Commanders, Company Officers and Firefighters.

How do your skill sets compliment or detract from the incident’s priorities, demands, and required actions?

Are you working to eliminate any gaps and be the best you can be?

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You are integral to all that’s required on the fireground: failure is not an option.

Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

A 44-year fire service veteran and a highly regarded national and international instructor, author, lecturer and fire officer, he is a distinguished authority on building construction issues affecting the fire and emergency services and has traveled throughout the United States and internationally delivering training programs on building construction, command management and operational safety. A former Adjunct Instructor with the National Fire Academy, he is a past member of the Board of Directors, IAFC Safety, Health & Survival Section and a past Vice-President with the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. A former architect and fire protection engineer, he was the 1987 ISFSI George D. Post National Fire Instructor of the Year. He is the Chief of Training for the Command Institute (NY|DC) is a Consultant to NIOSH (USA) Firefighter Fatality Investigation & Prevention Program and a well-respected Tactical Theorist, researching and developing emerging and cutting edge strategic and tactical operational methodologies and is active in numerous national & international fire service agenda programs and committees. He is the Executive Producer of the Buildingsonfire.com, FiregroundLeadership.com and Co-produces TheFireOfficer.com. He lectures and instructs throughout North America and Internationally